Broncs thrive in tourney play with 10-1 mark Bernstein supplies spark for Rams

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AUGUSTA – Daniel McCue wasn’t sure where to rank Hampden Academy’s 57-39 win over top-ranked Edward Little in Saturday night’s Eastern Maine Class A boys basketball quarterfinal among the biggest victories in the program’s recent run to glory.

Who can blame him? The latest victory by the Broncos improved their postseason record during the last three years to 10-1 – with one state championship, two Eastern A crowns and now a third straight trip to the regional semifinals.

“This year it’s definitely our best victory,” said McCue, a fourth-year varsity player for coach Russ Bartlett’s club. “But I’ve had a long career, so I don’t know.”

This may have been among the more unpredictable of the victories, in that it’s been an unpredictable season for a Hampden program regrouping after sending 6-foot-10 Jordan Cook and guard J Uhrin off to the University of Maine Black Bears after last year’s state-final appearance.

During the regular season the 11-9 Broncos often played to the level of their competition, earning victories over No. 3 Mt. Blue of Farmington and No. 5 Messalonskee of Oakland, playing No. 2 Bangor to a three-point loss late in the season after losing to the Rams by 40 earlier, but also dropping games to Old Town and Skowhegan, teams that failed to qualify for postseason play.

“Early in the year we were a little lost,” said Bartlett. “But the kids were willing to execute and do what we asked.”

That willingness was on display against previously unbeaten EL, as the eight-ranked Broncos looked more like the top-ranked team in scoring their biggest upset of the seedings since defeating No. 1 Bangor as a No. 9 seed in the 2005 quarterfinals en route to the state title.

“I think this ranks right up there,” said senior forward Evan Farley. “[Edward Little] was an undefeated team, and we’re the ones that got to push them off the shelf. It was great. A bunch of kids stepped up for us tonight.”

Bernstein provides a lift

A year ago at this time, Adam Bernstein was proudly wearing Bangor High’s cardinal and white – but as a fan in the stands.

Saturday night, the 6-foot-3 junior forward donned the same colors, but in a prominent role on the Augusta Civic Center court while helping the Rams to a 66-49 victory over Leavitt of Turner Center in an Eastern Maine Class A quarterfinal.

Bernstein started the second half and gave Bangor a big lift as coach Roger Reed’s club rallied from a 27-25 deficit.

With Bernstein on the floor guarding Leavitt standout Cam Angell, Bangor outscored Leavitt 23-6 in the third quarter to break the game open.

It was a spur-of-the-moment decision by Reed that paid big dividends.

“We weren’t doing a good job stopping 21 [Angell]. He had 10 points at halftime, and when I went to announce the starters for the second half, I just decided that I’d go with Bernstein on him,” Reed said. “I felt he could do a good job, and he did.”

Bernstein finished with four points, two rebounds and a blocked shot.

“Angell’s a very good player,” said Bernstein. “He beat me a couple times, but we had very good help-side defense. I basically was just trying to create a spark off the bench, and hopefully I did that for my team.”

While he didn’t play organized basketball last winter, Bernstein is no newcomer to the Bangor program, having played on the freshman team two years ago.

“Last year I didn’t play,” said Bernstein. “Life was too hectic, so I just played in a rec league with my friends and just had a good time.”

But watching his teammates from the stands gave Bernstein the itch to return, and he rejoined the team during summer league play

“I missed the competitiveness,” he said. “Coming out here and watching my friends on the court last year, I just wanted to come back and get my opportunity to do it, and this year I am.”

His teammates appreciate his contribution to the Rams’ 18-1 season heading into Wednesday night’s semifinal against Mt. Blue of Farmington.

“Bernstein, I’d say he’s our best rebounder and best defender,” said senior forward Alex Gallant. “He’s long, he’s quick, he knows how to play, and every time he comes in and he’s able to shut down one of the other team’s key players it’s just a lift for us, because it’s something else we don’t have to worry about and we can just play our guys harder.”

That was just the ticket Saturday night, as while Bernstein focused on Angell, his teammates focused on their defensive assignments as Bangor limited Leavitt to 2 of 14 shooting in the decisive third period.

“I didn’t expect to get any crucial minutes,” said Bernstein. “I was just trying to help the team, work hard in practice and help them get ready for the tournament. But luckily I got my number called and did my thing.”

Gallant, Webb Bates-bound

Two members of the Bangor boys basketball team will continue playing sports at Bates College in Lewiston beginning next fall.

Alex Gallant and Gordon Webb both have decided to attend the Lewiston school, where Gallant will play basketball and baseball while Webb will play baseball.

Gallant, the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A North player of the year in basketball, also sparked Bangor to the Class A baseball state championship last year. The outfielder hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, then drove home the game-winning run in the top of the seventh as Bangor rallied past Portland 4-3 in the championship game.

Gallant also competed in football at Bangor, playing tight end and defensive end for the Rams last fall. “I was talking to the [Bates] football coach for a while,” said Gallant, “but in the end all the Bates coaches are really awesome. I liked them all, but basketball and baseball I’ve always loved the most so that’s what I’m playing.”

Gallant will follow older brother Aaron as a multisport athlete at a New England Small College Athletic Conference school. Aaron Gallant plays both football and basketball at Tufts University.

“I know it can be done, so I’m looking forward to it,” said Gallant. “It should be fun.”

Webb is considered one of the region’s top catchers, earning all-conference honors while helping Bangor win the state title last spring and earning a berth in the American Legion state tournament last summer.